Palestinian Intimidation of Journalists

Through both official policy and covert methods, the Palestinian Authority forces journalists to skew their reports.

Members of the PA-affiliated Fatah Hawks kidnapped two Newsweek correspondents today. Jerusalem bureau chief Joshua Hammer had just concluded an interview with Palestinian leaders in the Gaza Strip, and was informed by the interviewees that they were now prisoners. Hammer and photographer Gary Knight were held captive for about four hours. Newsweek chairman and editor-in-chief Richard Smith said: “[We are] outraged that two journalists who were doing their job were subjected to this kind of treatment."

News Item: Ramallah – October 12, 2000

Journalist Ricardo Cristiano, from the Italian state television network RAI, published a letter of apology in Arabic over the filming of the lynching of two Israelis in Ramallah. Cristiano promised to "respect" the "rules" laid down by the Palestinian Authority, and pledged to prevent similar images being shown in the future. Cristiano apparently feared being associated with another Italian TV crew whose footage of the lynching was broadcast worldwide. The apology was published in the official Palestinian daily, Al Hayat.

News Item: Jerusalem – November 2, 2000

The Palestinian Journalists' Union published a letter in the PA daily Al Hayat, condemning the Associated Press for its portrayal of the “struggle of the Palestinians.” The letter threatened that if AP did not change its coverage, the Palestinian Journalists' Union would adopt "all necessary measures against AP staffers."

The media war is being fought on an uneven battlefield. On one side is Israeli democracy with freedom of the press. On the other side is the Palestinian Authority (PA), which practices policies of intimidation, harassment and restriction of the press. Since September 2000:

British photographer Mark Seager told how he was punched in the face by a Palestinian and had his camera smashed to the floor when he tried to photograph Palestinians engaged in violent activities.

Aguirre Bertrand of France's TF1 says that Palestinian police took a videotape of from his crew at gunpoint.

Chicago Tribune reporter Hugh Dellios was severely beaten by Palestinians in Jerusalem's Old City while covering Palestinian riots.

Canadian Broadcasting Company foreign correspondent Neil Macdonald was threatened by a group of Arab rioters in Nablus.

How can a journalist report honestly if his life is being threatened?

As Stephanie Gutmann wrote in the Weekly Standard: “Take the photos the militiamen want and you are generally fine, even helpfully ushered around; take pictures that show Palestinians in roles other than victim, and things can get nasty quite fast.”

Perhaps even more insidious is that the media, fearing Palestinian reprisals, have imposed a self-censorship that severely curtails their reporting of Palestinian abuses.

Non-partisan sources, such as the U.S. State Department, Amnesty International, Freedom House, and even Palestinian rights groups report that the Palestinian Authority routinely harasses, arrests, beats and tortures journalists who print or report items critical of the PA or Arafat.

"In a number of instances during the year, the PA took steps to limit free expression, particularly in regards to human rights issues and allegations of corruption. Press freedom in PA controlled areas is subject to a 1995 press law that does not adequately protect the press. PA security services further stifle the independence of the press by shutting down media outlets, banning publication or broadcast of material, and periodically harassing or detaining media members. Palestinian commentators and human rights groups say that as a result, the practice of self-censorship by journalists is widespread."

"Under a 1995 Palestinian press law, journalists may be fined and jailed and newspapers closed for publishing 'secret information' on Palestinian security forces or news that might harm national unity or incite violence. Several small private radio and television stations are pressured by authorities to provide favorable coverage of Arafat and the PNA. Official Palestinian radio and television are government mouthpieces. In May, Palestinian security forces arrested three journalists working for an Islamic weekly who reported on instances of alleged torture by the Palestinian police. In September, Palestinian police arrested Maher Dasuki, a television talk-show host at a Ramallah-based television station, for hosting a guest who criticized Yassir Arafat. Upon his release 20 days later, Dasuki charged his jailers had tortured him...

"The Palestine National Authority is slow in relaxing controls that imply that news media are part of the PNA structure and answerable to it. While censorship is unpredictable, intimidation and harassment of journalists leads to pervasive self-censorship...”

"Since its establishment in 1994, the PA has progressively restricted the right to freedom of expression through a variety of means, including arrest and detention by various security forces... Many detainees have been held incommunicado and some have been subjected to torture or ill-treatment...

"Those arrested are rarely shown an arrest warrant or informed of the reason for their arrest. Nevertheless the fact that their arrest took place hours or days after they delivered a controversial speech or wrote a critical article, for example, leaves little room for doubt as to the reason for their detention. Critics of the PA may find themselves invited to have a short meeting over a cup of coffee with one or other of the security services, only for them to emerge from detention days, weeks, or even months later...

"Those arrested have included journalists, academics, political activists, lawyers, government officials, trade unionists, and religious figures. Many human rights defenders were detained in the early years...

"The PA has infringed the right to freedom of expression in other ways. Many journalists have reported being subjected to ill-treatment at the hands of the security forces while they were going about their duties...

"To avoid the kinds of abuses described above, some Palestinian journalists now admit that they practice self-censorship, either by modifying the manner in which they report a story or not reporting or commenting on certain topics at all. Even if a journalist is prepared to take risks, his or her editor may not be willing to carry the responsibility of authorizing publication of a critical article..."

"...A journalist in Palestine faces external censorship that restricts his freedom of opinion and expression. He or she faces self-censorship that limits the initiative to think on issues that he or she believes may surpass the drawn red lines. This fact made the local press only look like parrots that repeat what is expected from them without asking or criticizing anything.

"Self-censorship is considered more serious that external censorship because it not only prevents the journalist from publishing what he writes, but it also hinders his writing, thinking or analyzing. He or she would not think of wasting time writing material that will surely not be published... Self-censorship also takes hold when journalists hear of colleagues getting abused by the security services when they exceed the red lines."

Palestinian Tradition of Press Intimidation

During the PLO's reign of terror in Lebanon (1976-82), Lebanese and foreign journalists were harassed and in several cases murdered by the PLO. For example, Edouard Saeb, editor of L'Orient le Jour and correspondent to Le Monde, was shot down by PLO gunmen in September 1976.

Journalist Edouard George, then senior editor of Beirut's French-language daily L'Orient le Jour, compiled a list of seven foreign journalists who were killed by the PLO between 1976-81:

Larry Buchman, correspondent for ABC Television

Mark Tryon, Free Belgium Radio

Jean Lougeau, correspondent for French TF-1

Tony Italo, Italian journalist

Graciella Difaco, Italian journalist

Sean Toolan, correspondent for ABC

Robert Pfeffer, correspondent for Der Spiegel

Commenting on the abduction last week of the Newsweek reporter and photographer, one foreign correspondent told the Jerusalem Post: "This is a really bad omen for journalists who work in the territories. These sorts of things tend to be infectious, and others may surely get ideas. We have all been thinking lately of Lebanon in the 1980s, and wondering if it could happen here.”

There are many elements to the ongoing media war. The Palestinian intimidation of journalists is surely one major factor in skewing media coverage against the Israeli side.

About the Author

Visitor Comments: 5

(5)
Anonymous,
July 18, 2001 12:00 AM

DISCLAIMERS

Why doesn't the media, on final local publication of stories, preface their pieces with disclaimers on the truth, accuracy, and authenticity of their stories that emanate from PA controlled areas, and then leave up to their audience's better judgment and common sense, thus avoiding responsibility for interpretation and analysis?

(4)
Anonymous,
June 12, 2001 12:00 AM

needs more media attention

I feel the commentary re Palestinian suppresion of the press where its inconclusive You need to add information and organizations i.e.,
to complain about a lousy attorney
we are urged to contact American Bar Association,
I guess my suggestion would be to let us all know if such an organization exists in regards to Media houses who deliberately serve no purpose except for being Palestinian mouthpiece or a Terrorist voice as a matter of fact
and pass it on to the consumers of the media as legitimate news.
If a Journalistic association exists
please let all of your readers know
by concluding your commentary
thanks

(3)
Anonymous,
June 7, 2001 12:00 AM

correction

Israel doesn't have freedom of the press. That's why Arutz 7 has to brodcast from a boat and gets arrested when they come in to refuel.

(2)
jane Topp,
June 4, 2001 12:00 AM

media has only the power we give it!

I think it was Mark Twain that once said,"He who controls the media controls your mind".This corruption is a really good reason for us all to refuse to participate in the media...we as a family do not have TV as we are disgusted over their corrupt reporting in relation to Israel and their lack of censorship and control of society.The PA can only have this power because most of the world is hooked on the news reports...better to source the truth!

(1)
Anonymous,
June 3, 2001 12:00 AM

Get This Important Information Out

Thanks for the article summarizing the Palestinian Authority's efforts to manipulate the western media by physical pressure and intimidation. Unfortunately, this important topic is not being covered by the mainstream media. It is vital that this issue be given more media attention, since it affects how the news is presented around the world. Please make every effort to publicize it more!

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I live in rural Montana where the Cholov Yisrael milk is difficult to obtain and very expensive. So I drink regular milk. What is your view on this?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Jewish law requires that there be rabbinic supervision during the milking process to ensure that the milk comes from a kosher animal. In the United States, many people rely on the Department of Agriculture's regulations and controls as sufficiently stringent to fulfill the rabbinic requirement for supervision.

Most of the major Kashrut organizations in the United States rely on this as well. You will therefore find many kosher products in America certified with a 'D' next to the kosher symbol. Such products – unless otherwise specified on the label – are not Cholov Yisrael and are assumed kosher based on the DOA's guarantee.

There are many, however, do not rely on this, and will eat only dairy products that are designated as Cholov Yisrael (literally, "Jewish milk"). This is particularly true in large Jewish communities, where Cholov Yisrael is widely available.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein wrote that under limited conditions, such as an institution which consumes a lot of milk and Cholov Yisrael is generally unavailable or especially expensive, American milk is acceptable, as the government supervision is adequate to prevent non-kosher ingredients from being added.

It should be added that the above only applies to milk itself, which is marketed as pure cow's milk. All other dairy products, such as cheeses and butter, may contain non-kosher ingredients and always require kosher certification. In addition, Rabbi Feinstein's ruling applies only in the United States, where government regulations are considered reliable. In other parts of the world, including Europe, Cholov Yisrael is a requirement.

There are additional esoteric reasons for being stringent regarding Cholov Yisrael, and because of this it is generally advisable to consume only Cholov Yisroel dairy foods.

In 1889, 800 Jews arrived in Buenos Aires, marking the birth of the modern Jewish community in Argentina. These immigrants were fleeing poverty and pogroms in Russia, and moved to Argentina because of its open door policy of immigration. By 1920, more than 150,000 Jews were living in Argentina. Juan Peron's rise to power in 1946 was an ominous sign, as he was a Nazi sympathizer with fascist leanings. Peron halted Jewish immigration to Argentina, introduced mandatory Catholic religious instruction in public schools, and allowed Argentina to become a haven for fleeing Nazis. (In 1960, Israeli agents abducted Adolf Eichmann from a Buenos Aires suburb.) Today, Argentina has the largest Jewish community in Latin America with 250,000, though terror attacks have prompted many young people to emigrate. In 1992, the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 32 people. In 1994, the Jewish community headquarters in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 85 people. The perpetrators have never been apprehended.

Be aware of what situations and behaviors give you pleasure. When you feel excessively sad and cannot change your attitude, make a conscious effort to take some action that might alleviate your sadness.

If you anticipate feeling sad, prepare a list of things that might make you feel better. It could be talking to a specific enthusiastic individual, running, taking a walk in a quiet area, looking at pictures of family, listening to music, or reading inspiring words.

While our attitude is a major factor in sadness, lack of positive external situations and events play an important role in how we feel.

[If a criminal has been executed by hanging] his body may not remain suspended overnight ... because it is an insult to God (Deuteronomy 21:23).

Rashi explains that since man was created in the image of God, anything that disparages man is disparaging God as well.

Chilul Hashem, bringing disgrace to the Divine Name, is one of the greatest sins in the Torah. The opposite of chilul Hashem is kiddush Hashem, sanctifying the Divine Name. While this topic has several dimensions to it, there is a living kiddush Hashem which occurs when a Jew behaves in a manner that merits the respect and admiration of other people, who thereby respect the Torah of Israel.

What is chilul Hashem? One Talmudic author stated, "It is when I buy meat from the butcher and delay paying him" (Yoma 86a). To cause someone to say that a Torah scholar is anything less than scrupulous in meeting his obligations is to cause people to lose respect for the Torah.

Suppose someone offers us a business deal of questionable legality. Is the personal gain worth the possible dishonor that we bring not only upon ourselves, but on our nation? If our personal reputation is ours to handle in whatever way we please, shouldn't we handle the reputation of our nation and the God we represent with maximum care?

Jews have given so much, even their lives, for kiddush Hashem. Can we not forego a few dollars to avoid chilul Hashem?

Today I shall...

be scrupulous in all my transactions and relationships to avoid the possibility of bringing dishonor to my God and people.

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